MLB Player News

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was great during clutch situations in 2013, finishing second in the majors with a .443 average with runners in scoring position. However, he wasn't nearly as productive in that area in 2014, batting .294 with runners in scoring position.

"I think the formula for Freddie is getting consistent chances," Braves hitting coach Greg Walker said, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "The (No.) 1 and 2 hole was up and down this year. We couldn’t find consistent answers there. We needed Jason (Heyward) in both spots, in the middle and leading off. That was not what he wanted to do. Jason views himself as a middle-of-the-lineup hitter. He’s a team player and he’s going to do whatever the manager asks him to do, but that’s what he views himself as, a middle-of-the-order hitter.

"But if you give Freddie consistent chances and they pitch to him, that’s another big key. You’ve got to have somebody behind him, that’s part of the puzzle. Yeah, Justin (Upton) had a great year hitting behind him this year, but one reason (Upton) had a lot of RBI is that Freeman walked a lot."

For the first time since fracturing his left hand in early August, Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt took part in batting practice prior to Saturday's game against St. Louis, per MLB.com. Goldschmidt should be on track to be 100 percent healthy for spring training. He finished his 2014 campaign with a .300/.396/.542 slash line with 19 homers and 69 RBI over 406 at-bats.

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour scored four runs in a productive night at the plate in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Nationals.

Bour singled in the second, doubled in two runs in the seventh and singled again in the ninth. He finished 3 for 4 with a walk, four runs scored and two RBI in a 15-7 victory. He is hitting .294/.368/.382 with one home run and 11 RBI over 68 at-bats.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is likely done for the rest of the year, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

General manager Walt Jocketty said "it doesn't make any sense at this point" to bring Votto back. He's been sidelined since July 5 due to a quad injury. Votto hit .255/.390/.409 over 220 at-bats. 

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores reached base four times in his team's 7-4 victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Nationals on Thursday.

Flores singled in the first, fifth and eighth innings, respectively, along with a walk in the seventh. He also reached base on a throwing error in the third. Flores finished 3 for 4 with a walk, two runs scored and three RBI. He owns a .252/.286/.382 slash line with six homers and 29 RBI over 246 at-bats.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto returned to pregame activities Tuesday, but Bryan Price stressed that there is no change to his status. The team would prefer to bring him back into action before the end of the season, but have yet to make an announcement with just five games remaining.

"He was doing everything - hitting the cage, taking ground balls, running bases, by the last day there in St. Louis, but we'll probably know more on that in the nest day or two," Price told the Cincinnati Enquirer, which recently reported that it's unlikely he'll play again until next year. "There's not a whole of time left."

Votto has been sidelined since July 5 with a quad injury.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto (quad) has taken batting practice for four straight days without any problems, but his return before season's end is considered doubtful, reports the Cincinnati Enquirer. He's been on the disabled list since July 8.

"He's not pain-free," manager Bryan Price said. "He's not 100 percent, and he won't be at any time during the rest of the season. So the question is, Do we want to play him at less than 100 percent? He still hasn't seen any live pitching."

The Reds are out of the race and would like Votto to enter 2015 spring training completely healthy.

Dilson Herrera was out of the Mets' lineup for Sunday's game at the Braves. He exited Saturday's contest with a leg injury. Wilmer Flores got the start at second base in place of Herrera.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has managed just one home run since Aug. 15.

Freeman maintains great overall numbers while playing virtually every inning of every game for the Braves this season, but only five of his 18 home runs have come in the second half. Despite the relative lack of power, he soared in August, hitting .330/.444/.476 in 103 at-bats. Overall, Freeman has hit .290/.387/.469 with 18 home runs and 73 RBI in 576 at-bats.

A matchup against San Diego left-hander Robbie Erlin has Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and second baseman Chase Utley out of the lineup Thursday.

The game off could hurt Howard's quest for his first 100-RBI season since 2011. He has 92 with 10 games remaining. Utley is in the mdist of a 2-for-17 slide.